Lift Ban on Tourist Destinations Like Lonavala, Khandala: Maval Business Association

Shikha Chaurasia

Lonavala, August 22, 2020: Maval Business Association from the Maval tehsil has demanded to lift all the restrictions implemented during the lockdown. They want 31 tourist destinations including Lonavala and Khandala to reopen including other businesses to lift up the affected rural economy.

All tourist destinations have been banned for tourism presently. The association demands the lifting of all the restrictions and allow tourist movement. A has statement has been submitted to the Maval MLA Sunil Shelke.

An office-bearer of Maval Business Association Prasad Bagwe said, “When all the businesses are allowed to function despite the higher number of COVID-19 cases in the city, the rural areas have lesser cases and businesses here should also be opened. We are ready to open our businesses and follow social distancing norms as well as other regulations issued by the government.”

During the traders meet in Karla, traders were upset with the injustice they were enduring. They questioned why their businesses were not allowed to reopen even as the lockdown is being gradually lifted everywhere across the country. The taxi and rickshaw drivers are suffering immensely due to the financial crisis.

Pratap Dimle, a hotelier from around the area said, “The government should sympathise with us. We are ready to look after our own safety and that of the tourists coming here. Small and other businesses are still waiting for help from the government. We are suffering huge losses due to the standstill in the economy here.”